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NC lawmakers push bill to reveal hospital costs

Two state lawmakers are proposing a measure that would help patients in North Carolina find the best prices on medical procedures.

Sens. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, and Harry Brown, R-Onslow, filed the legislation Wednesday. Its goal is to improve medical billing transparency, reduce health care costs and help consumers make better-informed decisions about their treatment.

A statement from the two senators says the bill would require hospitals and outpatient surgery centers to disclose all treatment costs associated with the top 50 most common procedures performed at their facilities. That information would be published via the North Carolina Health Information Exchange, the state's public information forum.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Sunday it was "very alarmed" by reports of widespread doping by track and field athletes in major competitions including the Olympic Games and world championships.

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